NBA Defensive Player of the Year awarded to Timberwolves’ Gobert
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was announced on Tuesday as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season, marking his fourth win and tying the record. At 31 years old and hailing from France, Gobert joins the ranks of Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the only players to achieve this feat since the award’s inception in the 1982-83 season. Notably, Gobert becomes the first Timberwolves player to claim this honor. He maintained impressive stats throughout the season, averaging 14 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.13 blocks per game.
In the voting, Gobert secured 433 total points, comfortably leading the pack. Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat trailed behind with 245 and 91 points, respectively.
On a separate note, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was recognized as the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
